DIY Faux Driftwood Anniversary Date Sign

We finally have no excuse—our anniversary date is now permanently displayed on the living room wall.

A few days ago, Robert and I were chatting when, together, we both blanked on our own anniversary date. With five years of major life changes—Robert leaving the Marines, both of us finishing college, starting to date, getting engaged, marrying, launching two new careers, welcoming a baby, moving three times, and building a house—it’s easy for dates to blur together. That little blank on our gallery wall was the perfect place to put a simple reminder.

Anniversary Date Driftwood Sign | Bless'er House

I made a faux driftwood anniversary sign for about $4 using leftover supplies—perfect for a quick DIY gift or a subtle way to remember an important date. Here’s what I used and how I made it.

Materials

One pine board cut to your desired size
Hammer, chain, or other hard tools to distress the wood
Pre-stain wood conditioner (optional but helpful)
Rustoleum Weathered Gray wood stain
Number stencils (optional — I used them to trace then saved them for later)
Pencil and craft brush
White acrylic paint
Medium-grit sandpaper
Sawtooth hangers (I used two)

I happened to have nearly a quart of weathered gray stain left over from another project, and we’ve accumulated lots of scrap pine from previous builds. I selected a plank that fit the blank spot on our gallery wall and started by distressing it. Using a hammer and a length of chain, I roughed up both faces of the board until it had a worn, weathered texture—great therapy if you’re feeling stressed and want to take it out on wood.

I applied a wood conditioner first—just following the can instructions—which helped the stain go on smoothly and soak in evenly. After wiping away the weathered gray stain a minute later, the board had a beautiful finish that looks convincingly like driftwood.

To mark the date, I used number stencils from the craft aisle but traced them with a pencil so I could reuse the stencils later. I taped them down, traced the shapes, and then painted the numbers with white acrylic paint. Since I wanted a worn, vintage look, once the paint was dry I sanded the whole sign lightly to fade the numbers and blend them into the surface.

After attaching sawtooth hangers to the back, the sign was ready. It was quick, inexpensive, and looks right at home on our gallery wall.

Robert is relieved—less chance of him ending up in the “doghouse” now that the date is visible. Truthfully, I’m the one who usually needs the reminder more than he does.

A Gallery Wall That Tells Our Story

This little sign finished off our gallery wall perfectly. When we hung thrifted, painted frames and the photos from the past five years, everything finally felt cohesive. That wall sits in the center of our home and serves as a constant reminder of what matters most: family, small moments, and the journey we’re on together.

Five years ago, when my best friend asked me to marry him, I never would have imagined how full our life would be now. It’s been a fast-paced, joyful ride, and trusting God through the ups and downs has deepened my faith and confidence in whatever the future brings.

This weekend I’m heading to the Haven Conference in Atlanta to meet many talented home and DIY bloggers. I’m excited to share two new projects next week along with highlights from the conference. Until then, follow along on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos and little moments from our home.

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